SUV Strikes, Kills 2 Construction Workers In Douglas County

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HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) – Authorities said an SUV struck and killed two construction workers in Douglas County at midday on Tuesday.

The location of the crash was South Broadway under C-470.

Colorado State Patrol spokesman Nate Reid said a blue 2007 Subaru Tribeca was traveling westbound on C-470 when it exited onto South Broadway.

“As the Subaru exited onto the offramp, the vehicle lost control and drove off the left side of the offramp and up onto the grassy embankment between the offramp and C-470,” Ried said in a statement. “As the Subaru neared South Broadway it traveled down the embankment and struck two pedestrians who were working in a construction zone.”

The construction workers who died have been identified as Joseph Schwartz, 47, of Morrison and Jesus Villalobos, 27, of Brighton.

Reid said the Subaru continued westbound and entered the northbound lanes of South Broadway where it struck a 2007 Honda pilot, which was traveling northbound. The driver of the Honda wasn’t injured.

(credit: CBS)

The driver the Subaru has been identified as Thomas Garrity, 74, of Bellevue, Neb. Both Garrity and his passenger, a 72-year-old woman, were taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital with moderate injuries.

Broadway had to be closed in both directions. Exit ramps off C-470 also had to be closed. The roads were reopened after 4 p.m.

(credit: CBS)

CDOT spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said they are working with contractor Concrete Works of Colorado on the construction project along that stretch of Broadway.

‘As you can tell it’s obviously really tragic. We’re a close-knit company,” said Dick Brasher, Concrete Works of Colorado Vice President. “They’ve got a lot of out-of-state family and we’re trying to get a hold of them.”

Brasher said both Schwartz and Villalobos were longtime employees of Concrete Works of Colorado.